Radical Care Through Artistic and Intercultural Practices: Transformative Grassroots Pedagogies for Inclusive Urban Sustainability in Tampere, Finland

This presentation examines radical care as both a conceptual and practical framework that integrates affective, material, and ethical practices of mutual support into urban sustainability, inclusivity, and democratic life in Tampere, Finland. Drawing on ethnographic research, it centres on three grassroots initiatives (a cultural cooperative, an autonomous art centre, and a community garden) that function as dynamic public hubs where artistic and intercultural practices foster collective care and creative citizenship. Through intercultural artistic workshops, free shops, community kitchens, multispecies gardening, participatory events, and inclusive cultural gatherings, these initiatives enact relational forms of circularity grounded in everyday stewardship, ecological awareness, and commons-building. The analysis identifies three interconnected dimensions: enhanced citizen participation, the creative integration of artistic expression with everyday urban care, and transformative pedagogies that operate as informal civic classrooms. These spaces cultivate ecological literacy, a sense of belonging, and civic agency, particularly for youth, migrants, and other groups often marginalised in formal sustainability planning. Situated in the Nordic urban context, these initiatives challenge neoliberal development and eco-gentrification by advancing practices of mutual aid and collective action. They demonstrate how artistic and intercultural practices of radical care can decentralise knowledge production, empower communities, and open inclusive pathways toward socially just circular futures. The presentation concludes with actionable policy recommendations for integrating radical care approaches and grassroots pedagogies into municipal planning and educational strategies, positioning care as a vital driver of intercultural, resilient, and democratic urban transformation.